Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Yay or nay to Amy's failed projects?

"The Peter Principle" (2000): Amy Adams and Paul F. Tompkins ("Mr. Show with Bob & David") were cast as the leads in NBC's workplace comedy pilot "The Peter Principle," produced by Hattrick Prods. in association with Warner Bros. TV. Caroline Aaron ("Judging Amy") was also part of the cast.

What happened? The pilot was not picked up for a full series. NBC didn't even bother to air the first episode because executives judged that it was not worth it.

"Barry Munday" (2005):In late 2005, Amy Adams and Luke Wilson were in final talks to star in "Barry Munday". It's a comedy about a womanizer who wakes up sans his family jewels after an irate father attacks him with a trumpet. Things go from bad to worse for the title character when he learns that he's being sued for paternity by a woman he can't even remember having sex with.

What happened? Prospect Pictures eventually offered the leading female role to Amy but she declined the part in what she now calls "a strictly commercial project" to star in Disney's "Enchanted" instead. Luke Wilson was replaced by Patrick Wilson (Raoul in "The Phantom of the Opera") and Amy's part was given to Judy Greer. Filming starts next month in Los Angeles.

"Winter of Frozen Dreams" (2005):Filmmaker Mike Graf was going to make a movie out of the Barbara Hoffman double murder case. It was one of the most sensational crimes of the past century in Madison, and Karl Harter wrote a book about it called "Winter of Frozen Dreams." Graf wanted to cast Amy Adams for the part of Hoffman.

What happened? The casting of Adams began at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, which Graf attended with his wife, Linda. Twenty minutes before the Sundance awards ceremony, Linda was in the women's restroom and ran into Adams, who starred in the Sundance entry "Junebug." Linda told Adams how much they'd loved her performance and then started touting "Winter of Frozen Dreams," telling Adams it would be a nice change of pace in that the Hoffman role is dark and creepy.

"I love dark and creepy," Amy Adams said. "Send me a script."

Twenty minutes later, Adams won the Special Jury Award for Best Acting. Despite her Sundance success, she didn't forget that bathroom conversation. Graf sent her the script, and she read for him in Santa Monica a month or so later.

Shooting was scheduled to start in November 2005 but production on "Winter of Frozen Dreams" was heavily delayed and Amy was unable to perform in the film due to other filming commitments. She was replaced by actress Thora Birch. The film will be released in 2008.

I would really love to see Amy in something a little darker. I love the roles she chooses now, but I am looking forward to seeing her in Doubt, which will be a different direction that we see. I just want to see Amy's full range because it's so exciting to see what all she is capable of.

Who is Amy Adams?

Amy Adams is an American actress who started working professionally in dinner theatre before moving to LA and pursuing an acting career. She is best known for her Oscar-nominated performance in Junebug in 2005 and her Golden Globe-nominated role as Giselle in Disney's Enchanted.